Chester Pa declares Martial Law

[anonymouse]

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...d131240127.txt

Letter to the Editor: Gun buyback in Chester is a ‘P.R./photo-op’ event
Published: Monday, August 16, 2010

To the Times:

For the first time ever I agree with Gil Spencer in his article on July 28 on the subject of the gun buyback in the city of Chester. It is foolish to believe those criminal elements in the city of Chester are going to turn in their guns for $100 voucher from a food market. The only guns the city will get from this “P.R./photo-op” event are guns that will fire or will blow up if you attempt to fire them.

I do not understand why the people of Chester continue to allow themselves to be fooled by the elected government in this city. This city was under “lockdown” for 35 days, coming out of it with no program by this elected body to correct the ills of our city. Out of this they came to the conclusion of moving the curfew of Chester’s children up one hour, when in reality they should be off the street and in the house by a certain time after dark. This is truly a safety move, but not a solution to the problem of the drug and gun culture in our city. This idea combined with the “gun buyback” should not be accepted by the Chester community as a well-thought proposal coming out after 35 days of a violation of our civil rights.

The city elected officials had time to think out a more concrete plan for addressing the ills which have been our calling card to Delaware County and all other outsiders. This city after more than 30 years of this problem has not come up with a program that truly addresses the real ills of the city of Chester. I have stated for the past 15 years that I do not care how this city rebounds economically. The poor of Chester would not profit because even after being warned, they did not prepare for this present-day boom.

<snip>

BILL RILEY

Chester

Apparently not everyone in Chester believes their lies.

[anonymouse]

More gun news in Chester:

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...c384718338.txt

Pedal power leads to weekend arrests in Chester
Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
By CINDY SCHARR
cscharr@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — Even with all the high-tech crime fighting equipment available today, sometimes it’s plain old-fashioned police work that gets the job done.

Last weekend, city police and state police used pedal power to their advantage and nabbed two convicted felons on weapons violations. They took two loaded guns off the street to boot.

Chester Police Maj. John Gretsky said the bicycle patrols are part of the arsenal the police department’s is using to take illegal firearms out of the community.

“The pedal bike patrols are a great tool,” Gretsky said. “We will continue to implement different strategies to battle gun violence in the city.”

Late Friday, Chester Officer John Benozich and state troopers were patrolling the area around the Bennett Homes when they saw a group of people loitering in the 1000 block of Taylor Place, police said.

One of those in the group was recognized as 20-year-old David Richardson. When Richardson saw the officers he began to walk away while reaching for his waistband, police said. Benozich saw Richardson allegedly bend down and drop something onto the ground. The officer checked the area where Richardson dropped the item and found a black .38-caliber revolver, loaded with five live rounds.

Richardson was taken into custody and charged with firearms not to be carried without a license and related offenses. According to court records, Richardson pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm without a license in November and was sentenced to one to 23 months behind bars. Still on probation for that offense, he is now back in Delaware County prison in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

Shortly before midnight Saturday, Benozich, Chester Officer Stephen Sheppleman and state troopers were patrolling on bikes near Lehman and Honan streets in Highland Gardens. Benozich saw a man, later identified as Omar Alexander, 32, crouching down next to an abandoned house. Alexander allegedly made several movements near the corner of the property before walking away.

When offices approached Alexander in the middle of the 1500 block of Honan Street, he allegedly became agitated and did not cooperate with the officers. State Trooper Gerard McShea checked the area where Alexander was seen crouching down and found a .32-caliber revolver, loaded with five live rounds, police said.

Alexander was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. A convicted drug dealer, Alexander had an active warrant out of Sharon Hill.

Charged with former convict not to own a firearm, firearms not to be carried without a license and related offense, he was sent to Delaware County prison after failing to post $50,000 straight bail.

The first guy, David L. Richardson, DOB 12/18/1989, was convicted 9 months ago for carrying a firearm without a license. Sentenced to 1 to 23 months, he's out on the street again, with another gun.

How does this sort of thing happen? Who is to blame?

This is his docket from the conviction in November:


The charges against him in the May 2008 incident:

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...R-0000090-2009


At the MDJ, most of them are withdrawn
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...=CR-0000202-08


(While this case is going on, he gets arrested again and is charged with providing false ID to law enforcement:

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...=CR-0000311-09

This made the court records harder to follow )


The result of the May 2008 gun case:



In the current case, he's charged with 6106 (firearms not to be carried without a license), but not 6105. He's a prohibited person because of his prior 6106 conviction. Why isn't he being charged under 6105?
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...=CR-0000465-10


It'll be interesting to see if they modify the charges. I doubt it.

Edit: his court summary: http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...erID=201543906

[Statkowski]

Write a letter to the Chester County District Attorney. Ask him in plain language, "WTF is going on?" Include copies of his court dockets. Ask why he only served a fraction of what he should have served. Ask why he wasn't charged and prosecuted with all the other charges.

Write to the Delco Times and ask them the same questions.

[anonymouse]

Today's article...

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...e097193897.txt

Chester cops get gun off the streets
Published: Thursday, August 19, 2010
By Cindy Scharr, cscharr@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — Another day, another loaded gun taken off of the streets of Chester.

This time, the alleged offender is an 18-year-old city man, police said.

At about 11 p.m. Tuesday, members of the Anti-Crime Unit spotted a group of men loitering in the area of Rose and Upland streets — a high crime area, according to Maj. John Gretsky. It is also the same neighborhood where there was a homicide, armed robbery and shooting of a police officer June 29.

The same group had been dispersed earlier in the evening, but had gathered on the street corner again.

As police officers got out of their patrol cars and approached the group, one of the men began walking west on Rose Street. Officer George Gizzi Jr. saw the man, later identified as Jashawn Palmer, toss a small black semiautomatic handgun under a box truck that was parked nearby, police said.

Palmer was stopped and taken into custody. The weapon was retrieved from under the truck. It was a .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with six live rounds with one in the chamber.

After he was arraigned on charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, fabricating evidence and disorderly conduct, Palmer was remanded to Delaware County prison in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

The Anti-Crime Unit is responsible for removing seven firearms from city streets since Aug. 1.

Docket:

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...=CR-0000678-10

Only other record in the UJS is a Non Traffic citation for Disorderly Conduct.

[anonymouse]

There is so much crap that goes on in Chester. Check this one out:
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...6396040354.txt

Woman busted in Ridley home invasion, gun theft
Published: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
By CINDY SCHARR, cscharr@delcotimes.com

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP – A 28-year-old cleaning woman has been arrested for the home invasion at an elderly man’s Franklin Avenue home last week.

Nora Taylor, 28, of the 500 block of Washington Street, Media, was waiting to be arraigned Wednesday morning on charges of robbery, assault attempted homicide and related offenses.

Taylor allegedly told police she knew that 84-year-old Don Kaighn had guns in his home and went there the evening of Nov. 30 to steal them.

During the incident both Kaighn and Taylor exchanged gunfire, but no one was injured.

According to police, Taylor said she sold the guns to a Chester man.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...5368348438.txt

Media woman facing charges in violent Ridley home invasion
Thursday, December 10, 2009

By CINDY SCHARR
cscharr@delcotimes.com

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — Nora Taylor thought she had all of the bases covered when she plotted to rob an 84-year-old man of several guns he had in his home on Franklin Avenue, police said.

What she didn’t count on was that Don Kaighn, her alleged intended victim, was a spunky, spry 84-year-old World War II veteran determined to not let anyone get over on him.

That one miscalculation, along with the determination of township detectives, has landed Taylor in the county jail on $1 million cash bail, police said.

“This guy’s a World War II vet, 84, a member of the Field and Stream Gun Club where he shoots every day,” said Detective Lt. Scott Willoughby. “He lives by the NRA motto that he’s not going to be a victim. Thank God, no one was injured in this case.”

Taylor, 28, of Media, who has prior arrests for drug, theft and assault charges, was charged Wednesday with robbing Kaighn in his home Nov. 30.

According to Willoughby, Taylor gave investigators a taped confession admitting she was the woman who staged the violent home invasion. In her confession, Taylor detailed how she had planned to rob Kaighn and steal several of the guns she knew he had stashed in his home, police said.

She also allegedly told police she had sold the handguns to Omar Roberts, a 26-year-old convicted felon from Chester, for $100 in cash and $100 worth of crack cocaine. A warrant was signed Wednesday for Roberts’ arrest.

Taylor quit her job with the suburban cleaning service that worked for Kaighn the week before the robbery, police said. Although she had been inside his house to clean only three or four times, she allegedly admitted she had rummaged through the drawers in his bedroom and discovered several handguns.

Taylor said she thought about buying mace to stun the elderly man, but decided she didn’t want to be caught on video surveillance making the purchase, according to police. Instead, she bought a can of starter fluid, which she intended to spray directly into the man’s eyes to give her a few minutes to steal the guns and make her getaway, police said.

Around 9:45 p.m. Nov. 30, Taylor allegedly carried out her plan. She knocked on Kaighn’s door, her face partially covered, saying her car had broken down and asked to use the phone, according to the affidavit of probable cause written by Detective William J. Henderson Jr. After speaking with someone, she turned and walked back into the living room. Instead of leaving, she turned and sprayed starter fluid into Kaighn’s face, the affidavit states.

Taylor allegedly began hitting the elderly man with the can and a struggle ensued. Kaighn retreated into the kitchen, where Taylor allegedly overturned the table and threw a chair at him. He reached into a drawer where he kept a revolver, as Taylor fled upstairs.

Taylor allegedly told police she had planned to go into the bedroom, take the guns and leave before Kaighn had a chance to regroup. But while in the darkened bedroom, she heard him coming up the steps and walking toward her, according to the affidavit. Taylor says she told Kaighn not to move, but he responded by firing two shots in her direction. She returned fire, police said.

Taylor allegedly said she tried to hide next to a dresser, but Kaighn reached in and fired again. In all, 11 shots were exchanged in the gun battle, Taylor emptying the six-shooter she had stolen.

Taylor grabbed a jewelry box and tossed it in Kaighn’s direction, police said. When he didn’t respond with gunfire, she stood up, threw two weapons and three clips out of the window then lowered herself to the ground. She ran to where she had left a borrowed car and fled the scene.

She later met up with Roberts, also known as “O,” who paid her for the weapons, police said. Roberts allegedly called her after news of the home invasion broke and asked if she could get her hands on any other guns.

Investigators began focusing their probe on Taylor after Kaighn told them that the only people aside from friends and family who had been inside of his home had been the cleaning service. After contacting the service and eliminating people who did not fit the suspect’s description, Taylor became their main suspect.

Willoughby also said they received numerous calls and e-mails from tipsters. He credited the community for its assistance and praised the detective division for its diligence.

“Our No. 1 concern always is the safety of our residents,” Willoughby said Wednesday. “Our detective division worked round the clock on this to make an arrest.”

Police are also concerned that two now-illegal handguns are out on the street. They are searching for Roberts and ask that if anyone knows of his whereabouts that they call 911.

Willoughby doesn’t recommend anyone else do what Kaighn did that night. He’s especially concerned about elderly residents and suggests that if someone you don’t know knocks on your door, don’t answer and call 911 and let the police handle the situation.

Taylor was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Vincent Gallagher on charges of assault, attempted homicide, terroristic threats, robbery, burglary, weapons violations and related offenses. She is scheduled to appear before Gallagher for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 21.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...2426248928.txt

Ex-con turns himself in, will face charges
Saturday, December 12, 2009

By PAUL LUCE
pluce@delcotimes.com

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — A convicted felon who allegedly paid a woman in cash and crack cocaine for guns she allegedly stole from an elderly man’s home turned himself in Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Omar “O” Roberts, 26, of Chester, surrendered to police with a letter in his hand from his attorney, Michael Malloy, Ridley Township police said. The letter allegedly advised Roberts not to speak to police and instructed the police not to ask him any questions, Detective William J. Henderson said.

According to police, Roberts paid Nora Taylor, 28, $100 cash and $100 worth of crack cocaine for two hand guns and three ammo clips she allegedly stole Nov. 30 from the Franklin Avenue home of 84-year-old Don Kaighn.

Arrested Dec. 9, investigators said Taylor, a former cleaning lady employed by the victim, admitted staging the violent home invasion in which she and the spunky World War II veteran exchanged 11 shots in a fierce gun battle.

Taylor threw the two stolen pistols she used in the firefight, as well as three ammo clips, out of a second story window, police said. She then lowered herself out of the window and delivered the stolen items to Roberts, police said.

Neither Kaighn nor Taylor, who has prior arrests for drug, theft and assault charges, was injured in the firefight, police said.

After news of the home invasion broke, Roberts allegedly asked Taylor if she could get her hands on any other guns, authorities said.

Henderson said police are still searching for the stolen loaded handguns, an AMT .380 caliber automatic pistol and a Colt .38 caliber revolver.

“Our number one concern is to get them off the street,” said Henderson. He said detectives have been in contact with the Chester Anti-Crime Unit to locate the weapons.

“They could be anywhere,” Henderson said.

Henderson said Roberts was not talking to detectives about what he did with the stolen weapons and clips.

Malloy did not return a message left on his office phone Friday evening.

Roberts was arraigned on charges of receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license, authorities said.

He was arraigned before Senior Magisterial District Judge Leonard McDevitt in Crum Lynne Friday morning. He was taken to Delaware County prison after failing to post 10 percent of 75,000 bail.

Roberts is scheduled to appear before McDevitt for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 21 in Crum Lynne.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...5601501309.txt

Woman enters plea in home invasion targeting 84-year-old
Tuesday, March 2, 2010

By MARLENE DiGIACOMO, mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com

MEDIA COURTHOUSE – Nora Taylor thought she had an easy mark in an 84-year-old gentleman, but instead he landed her in jail, as she entered pleas today to charges including robbery and a weapon’s offense stemming from a home invasion last Nov. 30.

Taylor, 28, of Media, will serve 6-and-a-half to 15 years in prison as part of a plea agreement worked out by defense attorney Joseph Malley and Assistant District Attorney Christopher DiRosato.

``This is a classic case of drugs ruining the lives of people,’’ said Malley. He presented testimony from relatives of Taylor including her father, who said but for her drug addiction ``she’s a very good kid. She got caught up with the wrong people.’’

Delaware County Judge Kevin Kelly approved the plea but delayed formal sentencing until Friday to allow Don Kaighn, the feisty octogenarian and World War 11 veteran, to be present. Kaighn fought back with a vengeance when Taylor came calling at his Ridley Township home last year seeking to rob him.

DiRosato said that Kaighn wants his say and the prosecutor is in total agreement that he should be there. ``I want him to address the court. He’s 84-year-old old and his house was broken into and he has a right to be there,’’ said DiRosato.

Taylor, who had cleaned the elderly man’s house while working for a suburban cleaning service, pretended her car had broken down to gain entrance to Kaighn’s home the day she planned to victimize him.

Police said the kindly man opened the door and then when a struggle ensued he managed to fight off the woman and fired two shots to scare her.

She had also stolen a gun and police said 11 shots were exchanged in the gun battle. Following the struggle, she managed to throw two stolen weapons and three clips out of a window then lowered herself to the ground. She ran to where she had left a borrowed car and fled the scene, according to authorities.

She eventually was nabbed when investigators began focusing their attention on people who had been inside Kaighn’s home, police said.

The plea agreement also calls for Taylor to serve five years probation after she is released from jail, so she will be under court supervision for two decades.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...b889755700.txt

84-year-old victim vows 'No more Mr. Nice Guy'

Saturday, March 6, 2010

By MARLENE DiGIACOMO
mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — After a lifetime of being trusting, a frail-looking but feisty senior citizen told a judge Friday that now that he’s become a victim in his own Ridley Township home, he’s “no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

“After 84 years of being a nice guy, it doesn’t work,” said Don Kaighn, the thin octogenarian, during the sentencing of Nora Taylor, stemming from a home invasion at Kaighn’s house Nov. 30, 2009.

“No more Mr. Nice Guy — I answer the door with a gun in one hand and the knob in the other,” said Kaighn.

Kaighn was in court as Judge Kevin Kelly formally sentenced Taylor, 28, of Media, to serve six-and-a-half to 15 years in prison as part of a plea agreement announced earlier in the week. The defendant pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of robbery, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. The sentencing was delayed to allow Kaighn to be present to tell how the crime had impacted him.

Taylor apparently underestimated Kaighn, a World War II veteran, who police said fought back with a vengeance when she attempted to burglarize his home that day. She had been employed for a cleaning service and had rummaged through his possessions, saw the guns and mistakenly believed he would be a pushover.

A contrite Taylor remained handcuffed as she said she never meant to hurt anybody. “My drug addiction drove me to do something so horrible and selfish. I was out of control. I almost killed someone,” said the mother of three school-age children.

Police said that after Taylor gained entrance to Kaighn’s house and he realized what was happening, a battle ensued in which 11 shots were exchanged, before she escaped by climbing out of a window.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher DiRosato said that Taylor would also have to make restitution for two guns valued at $600 that were stolen by her and never recovered.

Kaighn also told the court he was “disturbed that he allowed personal property, particularly firearms to be taken.” He labeled it “carelessness” on his part, but Kelly interjected that Kaighn “did nothing wrong.”

“You allowed nothing to be taken,” said the judge. “So please don’t think that the fact your guns were stolen during a home-invasion robbery that you’re anything other than a victim. You’re not.”

“Mr. Kaighn, I don’t think being a good neighbor is carelessness. And certainly one’s kindness should never be repaid in the fashion you’ve received,” said Kelly.

During the earlier hearing, Taylor was described by her relatives as the “the sweetest person” when she’s not on drugs.

The plea agreement, which included the jail sentence, to be followed by five years of probation was worked out by defense attorney Joseph Malley and DiRosato.

“This is a classic case of drugs ruining the lives of people,” Malley had said following the earlier proceeding.

“She came from a good family,” added the attorney. “She’s smart. When she’s clean and sober, she’s a wonderful person.”

Taylor also turned to where Kaighn was seated in the courtroom beside Ridley Township Detective William Henderson, who helped nab her for the crime.

“I’m so sorry for what I have done,” she said. “I never meant to hurt you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Following the hearing, Kaighn said he accepted her apology.

“I have a certain amount of empathy for that,” said Kaighn.

Kaighn, when asked by DiRosato if he wanted restitution for the damage done to his home, answered no.

“I can put up with the damage from the bullet holes — stuff like that,” he told Kelly.

So she goes to jail. What happens to the guy she sold the guns to, Omar "O" Roberts?

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...=CR-0000362-09



If he was a convicted felon, why wasn't there a §6105 charge?

(The felony conviction was for §6106 in 2005: http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketS...R-0001328-2005 )

I'm assuming (hoping) that their case against Omar Roberts was just weak, probably because his attorney advised him not to answer any questions. I guess it was probably Nora Taylor's word against Omar Roberts', and there was no physical evidence.

(I guess this case isn't as good of an example as some of the others, but now that I've typed it all up I'm going to post it anyway )

[anonymouse]

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...e197534113.txt

Letter to the Editor: Time after time, gun control laws prove ineffective
Published: Monday, August 23, 2010

To the Times:

It was with quite some dismay, but not surprise, that I read your article, "Politicians calling for gun laws," on page 4 of the July 27 paper. Besides exhibiting a very obvious bias, writer John Kopp included information that is simply not true, thus bringing his motives and veracity into question.

Besides showing an appalling ignorance of the facts about gun control, whether genuine or deliberate, state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159 of Chester, Mayor Wendell L. Butler Jr., Police Chief Floyd Lewis and Councilman John Linder show a concerning disregard for not only individual, God-given rights, but also the U.S. Constitution, the Pennsylvania state Constitution, and Pennsylvania state law.

Not only are they ignoring the Second Amendment, they are also ignoring Article 1 Section 21 of the state Constitution, which says, “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned.”

They are also ignoring or are ignorant of 53 Pa.C.S. Section 2962 (g), which states, “A municipality shall not enact any ordinance or take any other action dealing with the regulation of the transfer, ownership, transportation or possession of firearms.”

This makes it very clear that Chester is prohibited by law from passing any ordinance, regulation, resolution, etc, dealing with firearms.

As for the information contained in the article, Mr. Kopp states, “Such ordinances have been challenged by the gun lobbyists five times. On each occasion, the challenge was rejected, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision last month to uphold Philadelphia's lost or stolen handgun law.”

The obvious insinuation of this paragraph is that the courts have upheld local ordinances dealing with lost or stolen guns. However, that is completely not true. The courts have dismissed the cases, with the stated reason that the plaintiffs did not have standing because they were not charged with breaking the law in question.

As for Philadelphia, it is the only “city of the first class” in Pennsylvania. According to state law, only cities of the first class are allowed to regulate firearms beyond state law. Thus, the court upheld the Philadelphia law because it was not prohibited.

As for the idea of gun control, it has proven time and again to be ineffective. In fact, it is in places with a higher number of law-abiding citizens owning firearms that crime is reduced. I can think of a very good reason that some people would not want to report a lost gun. What if I don't want anyone to know if I have it in the first place? It’s nobody's business if I own guns or not. No one else needs to know.

A good example of what non-restrictive gun laws can do is. In 1982, the city of Kennesaw passed a law requiring homeowners to keep a working gun in the house, with exceptions for conscientious objectors, etc. That year, their crime against persons (assault, murder, rape, etc.) dropped by 74 percent. The next year, only one murder occurred, and that was committed with a knife.

The ACLU took them to court on the constitutionality of it, and lost. Their crime rate is incredibly low, their gun law is still in place, and yet, an interesting thing about Kennesaw is that — surprise surprise — their population is still growing.

Now, I don’t advocate required gun ownership, but maybe there’s something to their strategy. Maybe, the thing to do is make it easier for people to defend themselves, without fear of getting thrown in jail, rather than harder. Arizona, Alaska, and Vermont do not require permits to carry firearms, concealed or open. That is a great place to start.

The Pennsylvania License To Carry Firearms act is an infringement on my right to keep and bear arms, an infringement expressly forbidden in the Second Amendment. It’s also questioning my right to bear arms in defense of myself and my state, which is spelled out in the Pennsylvania state Constitution.

Where would we be right now if there had been gun control in the 18th century? What if King George had required everyone to register guns, and/or report every stolen or lost gun? King George ordered Virginia Gov. Lord Dunmore to confiscate the arms and ammunition stored in Williamsburg in anticipation of an uprising. Patrick Henry led a militia to recover it. If the British had succeeded in their strategy, we most likely would never even have begun the war for independence, and we certainly would not have won it.

Maybe the people advocating gun control should read history and see what Hitler did to the German population after requiring the registering all firearms. A disarmed population is a helpless population. If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.

OLIVER KOCHER

Concordville

Other than the highlighted part, it's a pretty good article. I wasn't aware of 53 Pa.C.S. Section 2962 (g) though.

(g) Regulation of firearms.--A municipality shall not enact any ordinance or take any other action dealing with the regulation of the transfer, ownership, transportation or possession of firearms.

Seems pretty much equivalent to 6120 ?

[anonymouse]

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...1443729957.txt

Gunshots lead Chester police to stolen handgun
Published: Thursday, September 09, 2010
By CINDY SCHARR
cscharr@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — A stolen semiautomatic handgun was confiscated by police after a foot chase ended with the arrest of two convicted drug dealers near Fourth and Hayes street Tuesday night.

Officer William Murphy was on patrol around 10:48 p.m. when he heard numerous gunshots coming from the 200 block of Hayes Street.

Murphy spotted a man standing on the passenger side of a vehicle, firing a gun into the air, according to police.

When Murphy approached, the driver of the vehicle turned the headlights on and drove toward the officer “head on,” according to Maj. John Gretsky.

The vehicle passed Murphy, who called for backup.

When Murphy and Officer William Carey tried to stop the car near Fourth and Hayes streets, the passenger, later identified as 22-year-old Breon Chambers, jumped out and ran.

Chambers was allegedly carrying a large black semiautomatic handgun in his left hand as he fled.

Officers chased Chambers to the 2500 block of Union Street, where Murphy and Officer Joseph Dougherty apprehended him.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 24-year-old Delon Martin, was also taken into custody by Carey. The firearm recovered from Chambers was a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun, which was reported stolen out of Bethel.

Both men are convicted drug dealers. Martin has served state time, while Chambers served time in Delaware County prison, according to court records.

Chambers and Martin were remanded to Delaware County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000 bail.

Gretsky noted that the area in which Chambers was firing the weapon is a residential block.

“Both men showed complete disregard for the safety and security of others,” he added.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...1057601852.txt

Chester officers confiscate weapon
Published: Friday, September 10, 2010
By CINDY SCHARR, cscharr@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — Another day, another illegal handgun taken off of the city’s streets.

Officers Michael Canfield and Matthew Goldschmidt, of the police department’s Anti-Crime Unit, were on patrol in Highland Gardens around 12 a.m. Thursday.

The officers spotted a group loitering in the 1300 block of Perkins Street — a high-crime area and the location of a number of recent shootings and homicides.

The officers approached the group of men and asked for identification.

One of the men, later identified as Richard Nixon, was unable to produce any identification, according to Maj. John Gretsky.

When asked if he had anything illegal on him, he allegedly ignored the question, twice.

Canfield performed a pat down search of Nixon for his safety and found a heavy L-shaped object in the back pocket of his jeans, police said.

The firearm, a .25-caliber, semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number, was retrieved.

The gun was seized as evidence and Nixon was taken into custody.

Arraigned on firearm and related offenses, he is behind bars at Delaware County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $150,000 bail.

Why was he required to produce ID? Why was he required to answer their BLATANTLY INCRIMINATING QUESTION!?! And failure to answer that question justified the frisk?

From the article, he doesn't seem like the ideal citizen. But there are a lot of questions unanswered.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...9275980112.txt

Chester police recover weapon
Published: Thursday, September 16, 2010
By CINDY SCHARR
cscharr@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — A loaded semiautomatic handgun found tucked in a man’s waistband Monday night has landed him behind bars on gun charges.

Jasmarr Anderson was hanging out in the 200 block of Jeffrey Street around 10 p.m. Monday when he was seen tucking a dark object into his waistband, according to Maj. John Gretsky.

Officers Donald Jackson and George Gizzi of the Anti-Crime Unit were conducting a surveillance in the high-crime area and watched Anderson meet up with two other men about a block away at Third and Jeffrey streets.

Sgt. Otis Blair and Officers Marlowe Freeman and Michael Canfield were notified and began walking toward the three men. As they approached, Anderson turned and began walking away, “favoring” the right side of his waist area, police said.

Anderson allegedly ignored the officers’ orders to stop. A struggle ensued, during which the 18-year-old made several attempts to reach for the gun in his waistband, police said. Anderson allegedly continued struggling with the officers and continued to reach for his waistband, but was subsequently taken into custody.

The 18-year-old explained to the officers that he had found the loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun with its serial number filed off, police said.

Anderson was taken to police headquarters and later arraigned on weapons offenses. He is now in Delaware County prison after failing to post 10 percent of $100,000 bail.

And this one.....

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2...3649064119.txt

Youths sign gun safety pledge (With Two Videos)
Published: Tuesday, September 07, 2010
By TIMOTHY LOGUE
tlogue@delcotimes.com

CHESTER --- Standing before a few dozen children, parents, clergy and community and political leaders outside Columbus Elementary School, state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, announced the start of a citywide campaign to get school-aged children to sign a gun safety pledge.

Created by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence more than 15 years ago, Kirkland said the initiative gives children the chance to become “proactive in the quest for their own personal safety.”

The pledge starts: If I see a gun or anything that looks like a gun I will not touch it, I will go get an adult.


“Will this pledge stop mean-spirited criminals who have absolutely no regard for human life, killing one another or trying to kill someone?” Kirkland said. “I think not. Will it stop them from purchasing guns or trying to sell guns to one another? I think not.

“What I do think is it will plant a seed of hope in the hearts of our young people such as these.”

Kirkland, a Democrat, is squaring off against the Rev. Rocky Brown, a Republican, in his bid for reelection in the 159th District, which he has represented since 1992.

The event was held just 10 hours after a pair of fatal shootings in Highland Gardens.

“What we need around here is more parents supporting their kids,” said LaTarshia Jones of Upland. “I have three boys and one girl and all three of my sons play soccer and I’m at every game and every practice with them but I also see a lot of parents that are not involved.”

Kirkland was flanked by Revs. Joel Magee, Horace Strand, Edward Lilly, George Anderson and Anzer Kirkland, the representative’s brother.

“We’re going to do this block by block throughout the city,” said Councilman John Linder. “It’s not going to stop here and we’ll support you from city council, from the churches and from every avenue that we can do to give you our support on this initiative.”

When he contacted the Brady Center, Kirkland said he was told the safety pledge initiative had been phased out due to lack of funding.

“I then asked if they would mind if I could reinstate the program in my community in light of the seemingly constant gun violence that has ravaged our city,” he said. “In short, they were simply ecstatic in their response.”

The center is named after former White House press secretary James Brady, who was left partially paralyzed in 1981 when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Kirkland, who has voiced support for a recently introduced lost-and-stolen gun ordinance and gun buyback initiative, wants the pledge circulated in all schools and churches.

Shannon May, a teacher’s aide in the Chester Upland School District, said parents are terrified for their kids.

“As a parent we’re tired, we’re tired of the violence,” she said. “I fear for my children (and) my children’s safety.”

You keep your "seed of hope", we'll keep our firearms.